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Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) sent Pacific Recycling, Inc. a pre-enforcement notice on Nov. 27 for multiple hazardous waste law violations at its facility on Cross Street in Eugene (off Roosevelt Boulevard). According to DEQ documents, Pacific Recycling recently acquired land on which J.H. Continue reading
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced on Dec. 20 their intent to find that the State of Oregon has failed to submit an approvable coastal nonpoint pollution control program (required by the federal Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments of 1990). The agencies specifically propose to find Oregon’s program deficient with regard to new development, onsite sewage disposal, and forestry. Public comments on the proposed finding are being accepted through March 20. Continue reading
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) sent Springfield-based Mid Valley Metal Recycling a letter on Dec. 9 for failing to submit stormwater monitoring results for 2012-13 for its facility on South A Street in Springfield, which has a DEQ-issued Clean Water Act permit to discharge pollution to the Springfield Millrace. DEQ also sent a letter to David L. Penegor on Dec. 11 for solid waste, waste tire, used oil and spill violations at a site on Brabham Road in Pleasant Hill near Highway 58. Continue reading
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is accepting comments through 5 pm on Monday, Dec. 16, concerning a Clean Water Act discharge permit application for industrial stormwater discharges from Metal Products Company in Springfield. Visit goo.gl/ScwdH to see the company’s stormwater plan, and goo.gl/iMDQb to comment. Metal Products Company’s permit application was prompted by a notice of intent to sue letter sent by Oregon Clean Water Action Project on behalf of Willamette Riverkeeper. Continue reading
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is accepting comments through 5 pm on Thursday, Dec. 5, concerning the proposed purchase and reuse of the former Elmira Store & Gas Station. According to DEQ, “Petroleum contamination from gasoline and diesel storage has been observed on the property since at least 1998.” Aside from the removal of underground storage tank systems and fuel dispensers in 1999 and some excavation, little cleanup has been completed. Green Energy Alternatives Research proposes to purchase and redevelop the site as a nonprofit community center. Continue reading
The most common type of Clean Water Act discharge permit in Oregon is the one for facilities that discharge industrial stormwater. In Lane County, about 120 facilities discharge to local waters pursuant this permit, and these facilities are required to monitor their discharges four times a year and submit monitoring results to regulatory authorities (either DEQ or the city of Eugene) by July 31 each year. Continue reading
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has followed up on the warning letter it sent to Vivian Rooke of Scott Township, Penn., on July 9 (EW 8/1, goo.gl/b9TTLo) concerning Rooke’s failure to have a legal septic system at property owned by Rooke at 81251 Lost Creek Road in Dexter. DEQ’s July warning letter followed three separate Lane County letters over the course of the last year to which the county did not receive any replies. EQ’s most recent action took the form of a pre-enforcement notice sent to Rooke on Oct. Continue reading
Comments on stormwater pollution control plans for three Eugene Sand & Gravel facilities (one on Coburg Road and two on North Delta Highway in Eugene) and Knife River Corporation — Northwest’s Harrisburg facility are due to Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) by 5 pm Oct. 18. Eugene Sand & Gravel is an assumed business name of Eugene Sand Construction, Inc. and Spokane-based CPM Development Corporation. Visit http://goo.gl/ScwdH to see stormwater plans, and http://goo.gl/DvYGCn to comment. Continue reading
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) assessed a civil penalty of $6,676 against PeaceHealth on Sept. 26 for operating an unpermitted underground storage tank and failing to upgrade it with corrosion protection at Peace Harbor Medical Center in Florence. PeaceHealth has owned and operated the underground storage tank since at least 1989 and failed to upgrade it with required corrosion protection by December 1998. Continue reading
It appears that the city of Eugene has completed its annual review of stormwater monitoring from the 76 local facilities that discharge industrial stormwater to local waterways pursuant to the statewide Clean Water Act industrial stormwater permit. The city oversees compliance at these facilities under an agreement with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Continue reading